Aperture control device and camera

ABSTRACT

An aperture control device includes: an aperture first driving member that controls an aperture of a diaphragm through which light flux passes; an aperture second driving member that drives the aperture first driving member; a motor that drives the aperture second driving member; a detection device that detects start of movement of the aperture first driving member caused by the aperture second driving member driven by the motor; and a motor control device that controls an aperture value of the diaphragm by controlling a rotational amount of the motor after the detection device detects the start of movement of the aperture first driving member.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

This is a Continuation of application Ser. No. 12/222,168 filed Aug. 4,2008. This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent ApplicationNo. 2007-204452, filed Aug. 6, 2007. The entire disclosures of the priorapplications are hereby incorporated by reference herein in theirentirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an aperture control device that drivesan aperture of a lens and a camera that includes the aperture controldevice.

2. Description of Related Art

An aperture control device used for a camera and the like is disclosedin Japanese Laid Open Patent Publication No. H11-282043. The aperturecontrol device increases driving amount of an aperture driving lever onthe camera by a gear train and detects, as the driving amount of theaperture driving lever, a gear rotation speed by a photo interrupter andthe like. When the detected value is a predetermined value, the aperturecontrol device puts a brake on the gear train to stop the gear train andthe aperture driving lever that is interlocked with the gear train so asto obtain an intended aperture value.

A conventional aperture control device puts a brake on a gear train byengaging a pawl to a ratchet wheel of the gear train. An instruction forstarting engaging the pawl is issued, taking into account the timebetween beginning of the movement of the pawl and engaging of the pawlto a ratchet wheel. However, if the pawl abuts against a tooth top partof the ratchet wheel, the pawl bounces and causes a stop phase of thegear train to be shifted. IN this case, a desired aperture value may notbe obtained.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An aperture control device according to a first aspect of the presentinvention, comprises: an aperture first driving member that controls anaperture of a diaphragm through which light flux passes; an aperturesecond driving member that drives the aperture first driving member; amotor that drives the aperture second driving member; a detection devicethat detects start of movement of the aperture first driving membercaused by the aperture second driving member driven by the motor; and amotor control device that controls an aperture value of the diaphragm bycontrolling a rotational amount of the motor after the detection devicedetects the start of movement of the aperture first driving member.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, it is preferablethat the aperture control device according to the first aspect furthercomprises: a worm gear that transmits driving force of the motor to theaperture second driving member, wherein: after the motor control devicestops the driving of the motor and the aperture value is controlled to apredetermined value, the aperture first driving member and the aperturesecond driving member are fixed so as not to move using self-locking ofthe worm gear.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, it is preferablethat the aperture control device according to the first aspect furthercomprises: the motor being a stepping motor; and a stop-down biasingdevice that applies a biasing force on the aperture second drivingmember such that the aperture is driven in a direction of stop-down,wherein: the motor control device controls the aperture value of thelens by controlling a rotational amount of the stepping motor after thedetection device detects the start of movement of the aperture firstdriving member.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the aperturecontrol device according to the third aspect, the stepping motor maydrive the aperture second driving member such that the diaphragm isdriven in a direction for widening the aperture against the biasingforce of the stop-down biasing device.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the aperturecontrol device according to the third aspect may further comprises: anengaging member that engages the aperture first driving member and theaperture second driving member with each other at least when theaperture is stopped down.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, it is preferablethat the aperture control device according to the third aspect furthercomprises: a maximum aperture biasing device that applies a biasingforce on the aperture second driving member as the aperture seconddriving member is driven in a direction for widening the aperture,wherein: the motor control device controls rotation of the steppingmotor such that the aperture second driving member on which the biasingforce is applied by the maximum aperture biasing device is driven in thedirection for widening the aperture.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the aperturecontrol device according to the third aspect may further comprises: anaperture second driving member initial position detection device thatdetects an initial position of the aperture second driving member.

According to a eighth aspect of the present invention, in the aperturecontrol device according to the third aspect, the motor control devicemay start rotation of the stepping motor such that the stepping motordrives the aperture second driving member in the direction of stop-downbefore the biasing force of the stop-down biasing device is applied onthe aperture second driving member.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the aperturecontrol device according to the third aspect, the motor control devicemay start rotation of the stepping motor such that the stepping motordrives the aperture second driving member in the direction for wideningthe aperture after the biasing force of the maximum aperture biasingdevice is applied on the aperture second driving member.

A camera according to a tenth aspect of the present invention, comprisesthe aperture control device according to the first aspect.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a camera body of an electronic camera towhich an aperture control device in accordance with the presentinvention, and a photographic lens to be mounted on the camera body.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of key components of a diaphragm mechanismincorporated in the camera body.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of key components of the diaphragm mechanismincorporated in the camera body.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a part of the diaphragm mechanism seen from theleft of the camera body.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a part of the diaphragm mechanism seen from theleft of the camera body.

FIG. 6 is a side view of a part of the diaphragm mechanism seen from theleft of the camera body.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a part of the diaphragm mechanism seendiagonally from the bottom left of the camera body.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a part of the diaphragm mechanism seendiagonally from the bottom left of the camera body.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a front part of the diaphragm mechanismseen diagonally from the bottom right of the camera body.

FIG. 10 is a timing chart of the camera according to the presentembodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An aperture control device and a camera in accordance with an embodimentof the present invention are now explained with reference to FIGS. 1through 10. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a camera body 1 of asingle-lens reflex camera, which is an electronic camera in which theaperture control device in accordance with the present invention isinstalled, and a photographic lens 2 to be mounted on the camera body 1.

The camera body 1 is provided with a release button 4, a CCD (chargecoupled device) 5, which is an image sensor, a control circuit 101 thatcontrols various parts of the camera body 1, a stepping motor driver102, and a diaphragm mechanism 400. The photographic lens 2 is providedwith a group of lenses (not herein figured), a diaphragm 2 a, and thelike. The diaphragm 2 a adjusts an amount of light flux of a subjectpassing through the group of lenses by controlling its aperture. Alongan imaging optical path 301 in the camera body 1, the subject image isguided from the photographic lens 2 to the CCD 5. In the imaging opticalpath 301, a main mirror 321 is provided. The electronic camera accordingto the present embodiment controls a charge storage time of the CCD 5 bya control signal from the control circuit 101 so as to control anexposure time. This is called an electronic shutter.

When the photographic lens 2 is mounted on the camera body 1, anaperture lever 3 on the lens comes into contact with an abutting part402 b of an aperture lever 402 on the camera. The aperture lever 3 onthe lens is driven by the aperture lever 402 on the camera (hereinaftercalled an aperture lever) and controls an aperture value of thediaphragm 2 a at a predetermined value. It should be noted that,according to the present embodiment, the side of the camera body 1 onwhich the photographic lens 2 is mounted is defined as a front, whilethe side of the camera body 1 on which the CCD 5 is mounted is definedas a rear. Each of the figures indicates the left, right, top and bottomof the camera body 1 in its own perspective

Conventional Diaphragm Mechanism

A conventional diaphragm mechanism increases a driving amount of theaperture lever 402 that abuts against the aperture lever 3 on the lensby a gear train and detects the driving amount of the aperture lever 402by a photo interrupter and the like as a rotation speed of the gear.When the detected value matches with a predetermined value, theconventional diaphragm mechanism puts a brake on the gear train andstops the gear train and the aperture lever 402 that is interlocked withthe gear train so as to obtain a desired aperture value. In other words,the conventional diaphragm mechanism controls the driving amount of theaperture lever 402 based on the number of pulse signals output from thephoto interrupter.

On the other hand, the diaphragm mechanism 400 according to the presentembodiment controls the driving amount of the aperture lever 402 basedon a driving amount of a stepping motor 411 in place of the number ofpulse signals output from the photo interrupter. The diaphragm mechanism400 according to the present embodiment is now explained.

Diaphragm Mechanism 400

FIGS. 2 and 3 are exploded views of key components of the diaphragmmechanism 400 incorporated in the camera body 1. FIG. 2 shows a statebefore a shutter release operation is started (in a maximum aperturestate). FIG. 3 shows a state in which a lens is stopped down (in aminimum aperture state). FIGS. 4 through 6 are side views of a part ofthe diaphragm mechanism 400 seen from the left of the camera body. FIG.4 shows a state in which the aperture is maximum. FIG. 5 shows a statein which the aperture is minimum. FIG. 6 shows a state in which a resetoperation is performed so that the aperture is maximum, that is, so asto return to the state in which the aperture is maximum.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are perspective views of a part of the diaphragm mechanism400 seen diagonally from the bottom left of the camera body. FIG. 7shows a state in which the aperture is maximum. FIG. 8 shows a state inwhich the aperture is minimum. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a frontpart of the diaphragm mechanism 400 seen diagonally from the bottomright of the camera body, which shows a state in which the aperture ismaximum. It is to be noted that the left, right, top and bottom in FIGS.2 through 9 are defined in accordance with the left, right, top andbottom of the camera body 1 in which the diaphragm mechanism 400 isincorporated.

Following descriptions on components of the diaphragm mechanism 400 aremade, assuming that postures, positions, directions in which an armextends, relationships with other members, etc. are in the state inwhich the aperture is maximum as indicated in FIGS. 2, 4, 7, and 9. AsFIGS. 2 and 4 show, the diaphragm mechanism 400 includes a board 401,the aperture lever 402, an aperture drive lever 403, an aperture resetlever 404, an aperture lever pawl 405, a stepping motor 411, an aperturefirst gear 421, an aperture second gear 422, an aperture reset engaginglever 431, and an aperture magnet 434. The diaphragm mechanism 400 is anaperture control device that controls the aperture of the photographiclens 2.

The board 401 is a plate-like member on which components of thediaphragm mechanism 400 are mounted. The aperture lever 402 is a leverpivotally supported around a boss 401 a provided on the board 401 and isan aperture driving member that drives the aperture of the photographiclens 2.

The aperture lever 402 is provided with arms 402 a, 402 d, and 402 e,and the abutting part 402 b. The aperture lever 402 is provided with anaperture reset spring 472 engaged with the arm 402 e at one end of thespring. The aperture lever 402 is connected to the aperture reset lever404 to be detailed later through the aperture reset spring 472 and isbiased counterclockwise seen from the left side of the camera body 1(hereinafter called simply “counterclockwise”) by the aperture resetspring 472. The arm 402 a that extends forward is provided with theabutting part 402 b at the front end. The abutting part 402 b comes intocontact with the aperture lever 3 on the lens when the photographic lens2 is attached to the camera body 1. The arm 402 a is embedded with a pin402 c that extends leftward on the left side of the arm 402 a.

The aperture driving lever 403 is a lever that drives the aperture lever402 and is pivotally supported around the boss 401 a on the board 401.The aperture driving lever 403 is provided with an arm 403 a and asector gear part 403 c. The arm 403 a extends forward. When the lens isstopped down, as described below, the arm 403 a presses downward the pin402 c on the arm 402 a of the aperture lever 402. The sector gear part403 c is provided along a circular arc around the boss 401 a and mesheswith the aperture second gear 422, which is detailed later. The arm 403a is embedded with a pin 403 b. The pin 403 b pivotally supports theaperture lever pawl 405, which is detailed later. The sector gear part403 c is embedded with a pin 403 d in its vicinity. The aperture drivinglever 403 is rotated by the stepping motor 411, which is detailed later.

The aperture reset lever 404 is a lever that applies a biasing force ofthe a stop-down spring 471 to the aperture driving lever 403 and ispivotally supported around the boss 401 a on the board 401. The aperturereset lever 404 is provided with an arm 404 a that extends forward andobliquely downward and an arm 404 c that extends downward. The arm 404 ais provided with a bending part 404 b that is bent leftward at the endof the arm 404 a.

The arm 404 c is provided with an aperture reset spring engaging part404 d, an abutting part 404 e, and a stop-down spring engaging part 404f. The aperture reset spring engaging part 404 d is engaged with theother end of the aperture reset spring 472. The abutting part 404 ecomes into contact with the aperture reset engaging lever 431, which isdescribed below. The stop-down spring engaging part 404 f is engagedwith an end of the stop down spring 471. The other end of the stop downspring 471 is engaged with the board 401. Therefore, the aperture resetlever 404 is biased clockwise seen from the left side of the camera body1 (hereinafter called simply “clockwise”) by the stop down spring 471.However, since the abutting part 404 e abuts against the aperture resetengaging lever 431, the aperture reset lever 404 is stopped in aposition (rotation phase or position) shown in FIGS. 2, 4, and 7 againstthe biasing force of the stop-down spring 471.

The aperture lever pawl 405 is, as described above, a member that ispivotally supported on the pin 403 b on the aperture driving lever 403and is provided with an arm 405 a and an engaging part (pawl) 405 b. Theaperture lever pawl 405 is, as described below, engages the pin 402 c onthe arm 402 a of the aperture lever 402 with the pawl 405 b when thelens is stopped down. In other words, the aperture lever pawl 405 locksthe aperture lever 402 and the aperture driving lever 403 together whenthe lens is stopped down. The aperture lever pawl 405 is biasedcounterclockwise in the figure by a spring 485 (refer to FIG. 5).

The stepping motor 411 is, for instance, a claw-pole PM stepping motor.A rotational speed, rotational amount, stop phase (stop position), etc.of an output shaft 411 a (FIG. 4) are controlled by the stepping motordriver 102. The stepping motor 411 rotates the aperture first gear 421through a reduction gear 493. In other words, a rotation speed of theoutput shaft 411 a of the stepping motor 411 is reduced by the reductiongear 493 and is transmitted to the aperture first gear 421. The aperturefirst gear 421 is a worm that is to be rotated by the stepping motor411. The stepping motor driver 102 is a driver that controls a drive ofthe stepping motor 411.

The aperture second gear 422 is a gear for reducing the rotation speedof the aperture first gear 421 so as to transmit it to the aperturedriving lever 403. The aperture second gear 422 is provided with sectorgear parts 422 a and 422 b. The sector gear part 422 a is a gear thatmeshes with the aperture first gear 421 and is a part of a worm wheel.In other words, the aperture first gear 421 and the sector gear part 422a of the aperture second gear 422 constitute a worm gear. The sectorgear part 422 b meshes with the sector gear part 403 c of the aperturedriving lever 403.

The aperture reset engaging lever 431 is the lever that engages theaperture reset lever 404 as described above. The aperture reset engaginglever 431 includes two levers, i.e., an abutting lever 432 that abutsagainst the abutting part 404 e of the aperture reset lever 404 and anovercharge absorbing lever 433 for absorbing overcharge at the time ofreset. The abutting lever 432 includes an abutting part 432 a that abutsagainst the abutting part 404 e of the aperture reset lever 404 and amoving core engaging part 432 b that engages a moving core of theaperture magnet 434, which is described below.

Both of the abutting lever 432 and the overcharge absorbing lever 433are pivotally supported around a shaft 401 d provided on the board 401.In the aperture reset engaging lever 431, the abutting lever 432 isbiased counterclockwise in the figure around the shaft 401 d by a spring435. The overcharge absorbing lever 433 is biased clockwise in thefigure around the shaft 401 d. That is, the aperture reset engaginglever 431 is configured such that the abutting lever 432 and theovercharge absorbing lever 433 are biased to and abutted against eachother by the spring 435 and are integrated together. The aperture resetengaging lever 431 is biased clockwise in the illustration by a spring436.

The aperture magnet 434 is a publicly known combination magnet thatholds an inserted moving core 434 a using a permanent magnet and thatdisengageably releases the moving core 434 a by energization of anexciting coil. The end of the moving core 434 a exposed from theaperture magnet 434 engages the moving core engaging part 432 b of theabutting lever 432.

In addition to the components mentioned above, the diaphragm mechanism400 includes a mirror up lever 406 for lifting up the main mirror 321, amirror up magnet 461, a charge lever 407 for performing reset (chargingoperation) after the shutter release, a charge link board 408, and acharge link lever 409. The diaphragm mechanism 400 further includes anaperture PI (photo Interrupter) blade lever 441, an aperture PI blade442, an aperture PI 443, an initial position PI blade rotation lever451, an initial position PI blade 452, and an initial position PI 453.

The mirror up lever 406, which is a lever for swinging the main mirror321, is pivotally supported around the boss 401 a of the board 401, andis biased clockwise by a mirror up spring 473 (FIG. 2). For lifting upthe main mirror 321, the mirror up lever 406 rotates clockwise by abiasing force of the mirror up spring 473 so that an arm 406 a abutsagainst a shaft not herein illustrated that drives the main mirror 321and pushes the shaft upward. The mirror up magnet 461 is a publiclyknown combination magnet that holds an inserted moving core 461 a usinga permanent magnet and that disengageably releases the moving core 461 aby energization of an exciting coil.

The charge lever 407, which is a lever to be rotated at the time ofreset, is pivotally supported around the boss 401 a of the board 401.The charge lever 407 includes arms 407 a and 407 b. The arm 407 a is amember that abuts against the bending part 404 b of the aperture resetlever 404 at the time of reset and pushes the bending part 404 bcounterclockwise. The arm 407 b is pivotally supported around the upperend of the charge link board 408, which is described below.

The charge link board 408 is a plate-like member for transmitting acharging power by a sequence motor not herein figured to the chargelever 407 and the like. As explained above, the upper end of the chargelink board 408 is pivotally supported around the arm 407 b of the chargelever 407. The lower end of the charge link board 408 is pivotallysupported around an end of the charge link lever 409, which is describedbelow. The lower end of the charge Link board 408 is mounted with acharge roller 482. The charge roller 482 is a roller into which acharging power by the sequence motor not herein figured is input, and isto be pressed downward by the charging power by the sequence motor atthe time of reset. The charge link board 408 is provided with a boss 408a on its left side. The boss 408 a abuts against the overchargeabsorbing lever 433 of the aperture reset engaging lever 431 at the timeof reset and rotates the aperture reset engaging lever 431counterclockwise.

The charge link lever 409 is a lever that controls the movement of thelower end of the charge link board 408. The end of the charge link lever409 is pivotally supported around the lower end of the charge link board408, while the other end of the charge link lever 409 is pivotallysupported around a shaft 401 e on the board 401. The board 401, thecharge lever 407, the charge link board 408, and the charge link lever409 constitute a four bar linkage. The charge link lever 409 is biasedclockwise by a spring 484.

The aperture PI blade lever 441, which is a lever that abuts against theaperture lever 402, rotates according to a rotational position of theaperture lever 402. The aperture

PI blade lever 441 is pivotally supported by a shaft 491 inserted into ashaft hole of the board 401. The aperture PI blade lever 441 is providedwith a pin 441 a that abuts against the arm 402 d of the aperture lever402 and a gear part 441 b that meshes with a gear part of the aperturePI blade 442, which is described below.

In the case where the aperture lever 402 is rotated such that theaperture is near the maximum, the arm 402 d of the aperture lever 402abuts against the pin 441 a of the aperture PI blade lever 441. While,in the case where the aperture lever 402 is rotated such that theaperture is the minimum, the arm 402 d of the aperture lever 402 isdrawn apart from the pin 441 a of the aperture PI blade lever 441. Inother words, only when the aperture lever 402 is rotated so as to setthe aperture close to the maximum, the aperture lever 402 rotates theaperture PI blade lever 441.

A rotation range of the aperture PI blade lever 441 is controlled by aneccentric pin 495. In a state in which the aperture is maximum, as shownin FIG. 4, the clockwise rotation of the aperture PI blade lever 441 isrestricted by an engaging part 441 c abutting against the eccentric pin495. In a state in which the aperture is minimum, as shown in FIG. 5,the counterclockwise rotation of the aperture PI blade lever 441 isrestricted by the engaging part 441 c abutting against the eccentric pin495.

The aperture PI blade 442, which is a member to be rotated by theaperture PI blade lever 441, is provided with a slit blade part 442 aand a gear part 442 b. The slit blade part 442 a is a disk-shaped memberin which a plurality of slits are disposed radially. The gear part 442b, which is a gear disposed on the right side of the slit blade part 442a, meshes with the gear part 441 b of the aperture PI blade lever 441 asexplained above. Therefore, the aperture PI blade 442 is rotated inresponse to rotation of the aperture PI blade lever 441. The aperture PIblade 442 is biased clockwise in the illustration by a spring 483 (referto FIGS. 2, 7, and 9).

The aperture PI 443 is an optical sensor, specifically a photointerrupter. When a slit of the slit blade part 442 a moves in theproximity of a detection part by rotation of the aperture PI blade 442,the aperture PI 443 outputs on/off signals (pulse signals) according toa position of the slit. The pulse signals from the aperture PI 443 areoutput to the control circuit 101. The control circuit 101 determineswhether the aperture PI blade 442 is rotating or not according to thepulse signals output from the aperture PI 443, and calculates a rotationamount of the aperture PI blade 442. In other words, according to thepulse signals output from the aperture PI 443, the control circuit 101determines whether the aperture lever 402 is rotated or not andcalculates its rotation amount with respect to the aperture lever 402rotated in a rotational position where the aperture is close to themaximum.

As FIGS. 2 and 9 indicate, the initial position PI blade rotation lever451, which is a lever that abuts against the pin 403 b on the aperturedriving lever 403, rotates in accordance with rotational position of theaperture driving lever 403. The initial position PI blade rotation lever451 is pivotally supported by a shaft 492 on an initial positiondetection board 481, which is a board to be fixed to the board 401. Theinitial position PI blade rotation lever 451 is provided with an arm 451a against which the pin 403 b abuts and an arm 451 b that rotates theinitial position PI blade 452, which is described below. The end of thearm 451 b is provided with a shaft 451 c that extends leftwardsubstantially perpendicularly to the direction in which the arm 451 bextends.

In the case where the aperture driving lever 403 is rotated such thatthe aperture is close to the maximum, the pin 403 b on the aperturedriving lever 403 abuts against the arm 451 a of the initial position PIblade rotation lever 451. While, in the case where the aperture drivinglever 403 is rotated such that the aperture is the minimum, the pin 403b is drawn apart from the arm 451 a. In other words, only when theaperture driving lever 403 is rotated such that the aperture is close tothe maximum, the aperture driving lever 403 rotates the initial positionPI blade rotation lever 451.

The initial position PI blade 452, which is a fan-shaped member that isrotated by the initial position PI blade rotation lever 451, includes aninitial position PI blade rotation lever engaging hole 452 a and aninitial position detection opening 452 b (refer to FIG. 9). The shaft451 c of the initial position PI blade rotation lever 451 is insertedinto the initial position PI blade rotation lever engaging hole 452 a.Therefore, the initial position PI blade 452 is rotated in response torotation of the initial position PI blade rotation lever 451. In otherwords, as the aperture driving lever 403 is rotated such that theaperture is close to the maximum, the initial position PI blade 452 isrotated to a rotational position that corresponds to that of theaperture driving lever 403.

The initial position PI 453 is an optical sensor, specifically a photointerrupter. When the initial position detection opening 452 b of theinitial position PI blade 452 moves in the proximity of a detection partby rotation of the initial position PI blade 452, the initial positionPI 453 outputs on/off signals according to a position of the initialposition detection opening 452 b. The on/off signals from the initialposition PI 453 are output to the control circuit 101. The controlcircuit 101 determines a rotation phase of the initial position PI blade452, that is, a rotational position of the aperture driving lever 403,according to the on/off signals output from the initial position PI 453.

Maximum Aperture

In the maximum aperture state, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, the aperturelever 402 is rotated counterclockwise and is held at the rotatedposition. The aperture lever 402 is applied with a counterclockwisebiasing force by the aperture reset spring 472. In the case where thecamera body 1 is mounted with the photographic lens 2, the abutting part402 b of the aperture lever 402 abuts against the aperture lever 3 onthe lens. This causes the aperture lever 402 to stop in a positionslightly rotated clockwise, compared to the position in the case wherethe camera body 1 is not mounted with the photographic lens 2. The thenposition where the aperture lever 402 stops is called “stop position ofthe aperture lever 402 with the lens mounted before shutter release.” Onthe other hand, the position where the aperture lever 402 stops when thecamera body 1 is not mounted with the photographic lens 2 is called“stop position of the aperture lever 402 without the lens mounted beforeshutter release.”

The aperture driving lever 403 is stopped with the arm 403 a drawn apartfrom the pin 402 c on the aperture lever 402. The then position wherethe aperture driving lever 403 stops is called “stop position of theaperture driving lever 403 before shutter release.” The aperture drivinglever 403 is, as mentioned above, configured to be rotated by thestepping motor 411. The worm gear composed of the aperture first gear421 and the aperture second gear 422 comes between the stepping motor411 and the aperture driving lever 403. Therefore, even if the aperturedriving lever 403 is applied with an external force, as long as thestepping motor 411 is stopped, the aperture driving lever 403 does notrotate because of self-locking of the worm gear. The “stop position ofthe aperture driving lever 403 before shutter release” is defined by aposition at which the output shaft 411 a of the stepping motor 411stops.

The aperture lever pawl 405 is rotated clockwise against a biasing forceof the spring 485 as the arm 405 a abuts against a turn part 401 b ofthe board 401, and is held in the rotated state. This causes the pawl405 b to draw apart from the pin 402 c on the aperture lever 402 andrelease the pin 402 c.

The aperture reset lever 404 is rotated counterclockwise against thebiasing force of the stop-down spring 471 by the abutting part 404 eabutting against the abutting part 432 a of the abutting lever 432(aperture reset engaging lever 431), and is held in the rotated state.In this state, the lower end of the arm 404 a of the aperture resetlever 404 slightly draws apart from the pin 403 d provided in theproximity of the sector gear part 403 c of the aperture driving lever403. The aperture reset engaging lever 431 is rotated counterclockwiseagainst a biasing force of the spring 436 by the moving core 434 a ofthe aperture magnet 434, and is held in the rotated state.

The mirror up lever 406 is engaged in the rotated state in which themirror up lever is rotated counterclockwise against the biasing force ofthe mirror up spring 473. The mirror up magnet 461 holds the moving core461 a using a permanent magnet. Since the charge link lever 409 isrotated clockwise by a biasing force of the spring 484, the charge linkboard 408 moves upward and then stops, and the charge lever 407 isstopped in a state rotated clockwise.

Since the pin 441 a is pressed backward by the arm 402 d of the aperturelever 402, the aperture PI blade lever 441 is rotated clockwise andstopped. In the “stop position of the aperture driving lever 40.3 beforeshutter release,” the pin 403 b embedded on the arm 403 a abuts againstthe arm 451 a of the initial position PI blade rotation lever 451 androtates the initial position PI blade rotation lever 451 clockwise (FIG.2). This causes the initial position PI blade 452 to be rotatedclockwise, and allows the light output from a detection part of theinitial position PI 453 to pass through the initial position detectionopening 452 b (FIG. 9). As a result, a Low signal is output from theinitial position PI 453.

In the case where the camera body 1 is not mounted with the photographiclens 2, the position at which the aperture lever 402 stops, that is, the“stop position of the aperture lever 402 without the lens mounted beforeshutter release” is restricted by the eccentric pin 495 via the aperturePI blade lever 441 (FIG. 4). In other words, when the aperture lever 402rotates counterclockwise by a biasing force of the aperture reset spring472, the arm 402 d presses the pin 441 a of the aperture PI blade lever441 and rotates the aperture PI blade lever 441 clockwise. The clockwiserotation of the aperture PI blade lever 441, however, is, as explainedabove, restricted by the engaging part 441 c abutting against theeccentric pin 495. The counterclockwise rotation of the aperture lever402 is therefore restricted by the engaging part 441 c abutting againstthe eccentric pin 495. Thus, the rotation phase or position of theaperture lever 402 when the engaging part 441 c abuts against theeccentric pin 495 is to be the “stop position of the aperture lever 402without the lens mounted before shutter release”.

As shown in FIG. 9, the eccentric pin 495 includes a shaft 495 a to beinserted into a hole of the board 401 not herein figured and an abuttingpart 495 b that abuts against the aperture PI blade lever 441. The shaft495 a and the abutting part 495 b are eccentric. Rotating the eccentricpin 495 on the board 401 therefore enables adjustment of the rotationphase of the aperture PI blade lever 441 when the engaging part 441 cabuts against the eccentric pin 495 (the abutting part 495 b), that is,the “stop position of the aperture lever 402 without the lens mountedbefore shutter release.”

In the case where the camera body 1 is not mounted with the photographiclens 2, the abutting part 402 b of the aperture lever 402 is exposed tooutside as shown in FIG. 1. In the maximum aperture state, however,since the pawl 405 b of the engaging lever pawl 405 releases pin 402 con the aperture lever 402 as described above, the aperture lever 402 isrotatable separately from the aperture driving lever 403. When theabutting part 402 b of the aperture lever 402 is pressed down by anexternal force, the aperture lever 402 is rotated clockwise against abiasing force of the aperture reset spring 472. When the external forceis removed, the aperture lever 402 is rotated counterclockwise by thebiasing force of the aperture reset spring 472 and stops at the “stopposition of the aperture lever 402 without the lens mounted beforeshutter release”.

At Shutter Releasing

Operation of the diaphragm mechanism 400 at shutter releasing is nowexplained with reference to the timing chart shown in FIG. 10 inaddition to FIGS. 1 through 9. Timing of excitation of the mirror upmagnet 461 is not shown in the timing chart. When the release button 4is pressed, a release signal is output from a release switch not hereinshown to the control circuit 101. In response to input of the releasesignal, the control circuit 101 excites the mirror up magnet 461 for apredefined length of time necessary for release of the moving core 461a. This causes the moving core 461 a to be released. As the moving core461 a is released, engaging of the mirror up lever 406 is released andthe mirror up lever 406 is rotated clockwise by the biasing force of themirror up spring 473 (FIGS. 5 and 8). Consequently, the arm 406 a abutsagainst a shaft, not shown in the figures, that drives the main mirror321, and pushes the shaft upward so as to lift the main mirror 321 up.

In response to input of the release signal, the control circuit 101excites the aperture magnet 434 for a predefined length of timenecessary for release of the moving core 434 a. This causes the movingcore 434 a to be released. The aperture reset engaging lever 431 rotatesclockwise by the biasing force of the spring 436 and releases engagingof the aperture reset lever 404. The aperture reset lever 404 rotatesclockwise by the biasing force of the stop-down spring 471 and pressesclockwise the pin 403 d, which is provided in the proximity of thesector gear part 403 c of the aperture driving lever 403 at the lowerend of the arm 404 a. Consequently, the aperture driving lever 403 isapplied with a biasing force clockwise, that is, in the direction forstop-down.

In response to input of the release signal, at the same time as startingexciting the aperture magnet 434, the control circuit 101 outputs acontrol signal to the stepping motor driver 102 such that the steppingmotor 411 starts rotating in the direction of stopping down. In responseto input of the control signal from the control circuit 101, thestepping motor driver 102 starts driving the stepping motor 411 in thedirection for stop-down. As a result, at the substantially same time ofstarting exciting the aperture magnet 434, rotation of the steppingmotor 411 is started (FIG. 10). As the stepping motor 411 is driven inthe direction for stopping down, the aperture driving lever 403 isrotated clockwise through the aperture first gear 421 and the aperturesecond gear 422. Drive control of the stepping motor 411 will behereinafter detailed.

As described above, the excitation of the aperture magnet 434 and therotation of the stepping motor 411 are to be started at thesubstantially same time. However, the length of time from the start ofthe excitation of the aperture magnet 434 until the lower end of the arm404 a of the aperture reset lever 404 abuts against the pin 403 d on theaperture driving lever 403 is longer than the length of time between theoutput of the control signal to the stepping motor driver 102 and thestart of the rotation of the aperture driving lever 403 by driving forceof the stepping motor 411. This means that after the start of therotation of the aperture driving lever 403 by driving force of thestepping motor 411, the lower end of the arm 404 a of the aperture resetlever 404 presses the pin 403 d on the aperture driving lever 403clockwise. Shortening of the release time lag is thus realized.

In consideration of the length of time from the start of the excitationof the aperture magnet 434 until the lower end of the arm 404 a of theaperture reset lever 404 abuts against the pin 403 d on the aperturedriving lever 403, the output of the control signal for starting drivingof the stepping motor 411 to the stepping motor driver 102 may bedelayed. In this case, the aperture driving lever 403 is to be rotatedby the driving force of the stepping motor 411 at the same time as orafter the lower end of the arm 404 a of the aperture reset lever 404starts pressing the pin 403 d on the aperture driving lever 403clockwise. This results in reduction of load at the start of the drivingof the stepping motor 411.

As the aperture driving lever 403 rotates clockwise, the arm 403 a abutsagainst the pin 402 c on the aperture lever 402 and presses the pin 402c downward. This causes the aperture lever 402 to be rotated clockwise,and stop-down operation to be started. In other words, the clockwiserotation of the aperture lever 402 causes the aperture lever 3 on thelens to stop down the photographic lens 2.

The clockwise rotation of the aperture driving lever 403 causes the arm405 a of the aperture lever pawl 405 to draw apart from the turn part401 b of the board 401. The aperture lever pawl 405 hence rotatescounterclockwise by the biasing force of the spring 485. The pawl 405 babuts against the pin 402 c on the aperture lever 402 to hold and engagethe pin 402 c. The aperture lever 402 and the aperture driving lever 403are engaged each other by the aperture lever pawl 405 and rotateintegrally. At stopping down, the aperture driving lever 403 and theaperture lever 402 are driven by the driving force of the stepping motor411 and the biasing force of the stop-down spring 471.

In response to the control signal from the control circuit 101, thestepping motor driver 102 controls the rotational amount of the outputshaft 411 a of the stepping motor 411 so as to obtain a desired aperturevalue. This causes the stepping motor 411 to stop after the output shaft411 a rotates by a predetermined rotational amount. As the steppingmotor 411 stops, the aperture driving lever 403 and the aperture lever402, which is linked with the aperture driving lever by the aperturelever pawl 405, also stop because of the self-locking of the worm gear.As a result, the aperture lever 3 on the lens stops, and thus thedesired aperture value of the photographic lens 2 is realized.

After the desired aperture value of the photographic lens 2 is obtained,a shutter (not herein figured) is operated by a known device and ashooting operation is performed. Immediately after a subject image iscaptured by the CCD 5, a reset operation of each part is performed. Thereset operation will be detailed later.

Drive Control of the Stepping Motor 411 at Stop-Down

In order to set the aperture of the photographic lens 2 to a desiredvalue, the aperture lever 3 on the lens should be shifted downward by apredefined amount corresponding to the desired aperture value. In otherwords, the aperture lever 402 should be rotated according to the desiredaperture value. Thus, the aperture driving lever 403 should rotate theaperture lever 402 by a predefined rotational amount.

In the state before shutter release, as explained above, the aperturedriving lever 403 is held in a state in which the arm 403 a is drawnapart from the pin 402 c on the aperture lever 402. Therefore, in orderto rotate the aperture lever 402 by a predetermined rotational amount(for example, θf), the aperture driving lever 403 should rotate by anextra rotational amount (for example, θa) necessary for the arm 403 a toabut against the pin 402 c. In other words, the aperture driving lever403 should rotate clockwise by the rotational amount θa before startingthe stop-down of the photographic lens 2.

Accordingly, in order to set the aperture of the photographic lens 2 toa desired value, the aperture driving lever 403 should rotate by therotational amount θf+θa, which is the sum of the rotational amount θfand the rotational amount θa, from the “stop position of the aperturedriving lever 403 before shutter release.” The rotational amount θf ishereinafter called “stop-down rotational amount,” while the rotationalamount θa is called “pre-stop-down rotational amount.”

The stop-down rotational amount θf is obtained by calculating a desiredaperture value and a downward displacement of the aperture lever 3 onthe lens necessary to obtain the desired aperture value based on anoutput signal from a photometric sensor not herein figured. Thepre-stop-down rotational amount θa is determined by the “stop positionof the aperture lever 402 with the lens mounted before shutter release”and the “stop position of the aperture driving lever 403 before shutterrelease.” However, the pre-stop-down rotational amount θa may not be afixed value because the “stop position of the aperture lever 402 withthe lens mounted before shutter release” may differ depending on thephotographic lens 2 to be mounted.

As mentioned above, the aperture driving lever 403 is rotated by thestepping motor 411 via the aperture first gear 421 and the aperturesecond gear 422. Therefore, rotational amount of the aperture drivinglever 403 can be controlled by using the driving amount of the steppingmotor 411, that is, the number of drive pulse that the stepping motordriver 102 outputs to the stepping motor 411. However, since thepre-stop-down rotational amount θa is not a fixed value, the totalnumber of the drive pulse that the stepping motor driver 102 outputs tothe stepping motor 411 at stop-down cannot be determined.

According to the present embodiment, in the diaphragm mechanism 400 theaperture PI 443 detects the start of rotation of the aperture PI blade442 so as to determine a time point when the aperture lever 402 startsrotating after the aperture driving lever 403 rotates by thepre-stop-down rotational amount θa. Then, the stepping motor 411 iscontrolled such that the aperture driving lever 403 is rotated by thestop-down rotational amount θf from the point when the start of therotation of the aperture lever 402 is detected. This causes the aperturelever 402 to rotate by the stop-down rotational amount θf from the “stopposition of the aperture lever 402 with the lens mounted before shutterrelease.” Thus, the aperture of the photographic lens 2 is set to adesired value by controlling the rotational amount of the aperturedriving lever 403, that is, the driving amount of the stepping motor411.

Specifically, in response to input of the release signal, the controlcircuit 101 calculates a target aperture value (aperture value setting)of the photographic lens 2 according to the output signal from thephotometric sensor not herein figured. The control circuit 101calculates the stop-down rotational amount θf (or the number of drivepulse corresponding to the stop-down rotational amount θf) of theaperture lever 402 for obtaining the aperture value setting. Then, thecontrol circuit 101 outputs information on the calculated stop-downrotational amount θf (or the number of drive pulse corresponding to thestop-down rotational amount θf) to the stepping motor driver 102.Following descriptions is made assuming that the information on thenumber of drive pulse corresponding to the stop-down rotational amountθf is output from the control circuit 101. Besides the information onthe number of drive pulse corresponding to the stop-down rotationalamount θf, the control circuit 101, as described above, outputs acontrol signal to the stepping motor driver 102 such that the steppingmotor 411 starts rotating at the same time as starting exciting theaperture magnet 434 in response to input of the release signal.

In response to input of the control signal from the control circuit 101,the stepping motor driver 102 starts driving the stepping motor 411.

As the stepping motor 411 is started driving, the aperture driving lever403 is rotated. As the aperture driving lever 403 rotates by thepre-stop-down rotational amount ea, the arm 403 a and the pin 402 c,which have been apart from each other, abut against each other and thenthe aperture lever 402 starts rotating. At this time, as explainedabove, the aperture PI 443 detects start of rotation of the aperture PIblade 442.

If the control circuit 101 detects any change in the state of the outputsignal from the aperture PI 443, the control circuit 101 outputs asignal that indicates start of the rotation of the aperture lever 402(aperture lever rotation start signal) to the stepping motor driver 102.

According to the information on the number of drive pulse correspondingto the stop-down rotational amount θf, the stepping motor driver 102outputs the said number of drive pulse to the stepping motor 411 fromthe point when the stepping motor driver 102 receives the aperture leverrotation start signal from the control circuit 101. The stepping motordriver 102 subsequently stops the stepping motor 411.

When starting driving of the stepping motor 411, the stepping motordriver 102 outputs the first drive pulse so as to excite a coil (notherein figured) of the stepping motor 411 with 1-2 phase excitation. Inorder to obtain enough output torque, the stepping motor driver 102outputs the second or later drive pulse so as to excite a coil of thestepping motor 411 in 2-2 phase excitation (2 phase excitation). Whenstopping the stepping motor 411, the stepping motor driver 102 outputsthe last drive pulse so as to excite the coil of the stepping motor 411in 1-2 phase excitation. As a response, in the stepping motor 411, amagnet rotor stops rotating at a position where a magnet of the magnetrotor is attracted to a claw-pole (not figured herein). The output shaft411 a thus stops at a stable position. It should be noted that in thecase where the necessary positional accuracy can be achieved with 2-2phase excitation, the stepping motor 411 may be controlled throughoutonly according to 2-2 phase excitation method without conducting 1-2phase excitation for stopping or starting driving.

The stepping motor driver 102 outputs drive pulse such that the steppingmotor 411 slows down just before it stops. This causes the aperturedriving lever 403 and the aperture lever 402 to slow down and then tostop. Consequently, with respect to not only the aperture driving lever403 and the aperture lever 402 on the camera body 1 but also membersthat drive lens on the photographic lens 2, the impact to be generatedat stopping is reduced, and thus generation of vibration in each memberis controlled. The stepping motor driver 102 outputs drive pulse also atreset operation, which is detailed later.

At Reset Operation

At reset operation, the control circuit 101 starts driving a sequencemotor which is not herein figured. As the sequence motor is driven,charging power of the sequence motor presses the charge roller 482downward. This causes the charge link board 408 to be drawn downward andthe charge lever 407 to be rotated counterclockwise (refer to FIG. 6).

As the charge lever 407 is rotated counterclockwise, the arm 407 a abutsagainst the bending part 404 b of the aperture reset lever 404 andpresses the bending part 404 b counterclockwise. This causes theaperture reset lever 404 to be rotated counterclockwise against thebiasing force of the stop-down spring 471. As the aperture reset lever404 is rotated counterclockwise, the aperture reset spring engaging part404 d draws the other end of the aperture reset spring 472 downward.This causes the aperture reset spring 472 to apply a counterclockwisebiasing force to the aperture lever 402 with which one end of theaperture reset spring 472 is engaged and the aperture driving lever 403that is linked or integrated with the aperture lever 402 by the aperturelever pawl 405.

Even if the aperture driving lever 403 is thus applied with the biasingforce for counterclockwise rotation, when the stepping motor 411 isstopped, the self-locking of the worm gear keeps the aperture drivinglever 403 and the aperture lever 402 stopped. If the stepping motor 411is started to drive in the direction of reset, the drive lever 403 andthe aperture lever 402 are rotated counterclockwise by the biasing forceof the aperture reset spring 472 and the driving force of the steppingmotor 411.

The stepping motor 411 is, as mentioned above, designed to startrotating in the direction of reset after the aperture reset lever 404 isrotated counterclockwise and the aperture driving lever 403 is appliedwith the biasing force that causes counterclockwise rotation. In otherwords, as FIG. 10 shows, the control circuit 101 outputs a controlsignal to the stepping motor driver 102 such that the stepping motor 411is to start driving when a length of time T2 has elapsed since thesequence motor not herein figured started driving.

Depending on the aperture value setting for stopping down, the stoppositions taken by the aperture driving lever 403 and the aperture resetlever 404 just before starting of the reset operation vary. Therefore, alength of time between when the sequence motor not herein figured startsdriving and when the arm 407 a of the charge lever 407 abuts against thebending part 404 b of the aperture reset lever 404 varies depending onthe aperture value setting for stopping down. In the diaphragm mechanism400 in accordance with the present embodiment, the control circuit 101changes the length of time T2 according to the aperture value settingfor stopping down.

As the aperture driving lever 403 and the aperture lever 402 are rotatedcounterclockwise, the arm 402 d of the aperture lever 402 presses thepin 441 a backward and the aperture PI blade lever 441 rotatescounterclockwise. Before the aperture lever 402 reaches the “stopposition of the aperture lever 402 with the lens mounted before shutterrelease,” the arm 405 a of the aperture lever pawl 405 abuts against theturn part 401 b of the board 401 and thus the aperture lever pawl 405 isrotated clockwise. This allows the pawl 405 b to draw apart from the pin402 c on the aperture lever 402 and to release the pin 402 c so that theaperture lever 402 is rotatable separately from the aperture drivinglever 403. The aperture lever 402 rotates to and stops at the “stopposition of the aperture lever 402 with the lens mounted before shutterrelease” by the biasing force of the aperture reset spring 472.

After the pawl 405 b releases the pin 402 c, the aperture driving lever403 continues rotating counterclockwise. Then, the aperture drivinglever 403 stops at the “stop position of the aperture driving lever 403before shutter release.”

As the charge link board 408 is drawn downward, the boss 408 a abutsagainst the overcharge absorbing lever 433 of the aperture resetengaging lever 431 and rotates the aperture reset engaging lever 431counterclockwise. This causes the released moving core 434 a to beattracted to and retained again by the permanent magnet of the aperturemagnet 434. The aperture reset engaging lever 431 engages again theaperture reset lever 404 which is rotated counterclockwise using theabutting part 432 a.

When the charge roller 482 is not pressed downward after each member isreset as described above, the charge link board 408 is shifted upward bythe biasing force of the spring 484. The charge lever 407 is rotatedclockwise according to the displacement of the charge link board 408.The diaphragm mechanism 400 thus ends its reset operation and restores astate in which shutter release is yet to start.

It should be noted that mirror down of the main mirror 321 at resetoperation is not herein detailed.

“Stop Position Before Release of the Aperture Driving Lever 403”

As described above, the “stop position of the aperture driving lever 403before shutter release” is defined by a position where the output shaft411 a of the stepping motor 411 stops. Specifically, the “stop positionof the aperture driving lever 403 before shutter release” is defined asfollows. As the initial position PI blade rotation lever 451 is rotatedclockwise by counterclockwise rotation of the aperture driving lever403, a state of light output from the detection part of the initialposition PI 453 changes from a state in which the light is interruptedby the initial position PI blade 452 to a state in which the light ispassing through the initial position detection opening 452 b. As aresult, a signal output from the initial position PI 453 switches from aHigh signal to a Low signal (FIG. 10).

The control circuit 101 outputs a predetermined number n of drive pulseto the stepping motor 411 from the point of time when the change in thesignal output from the initial position PI 453 from the High signal tothe Low signal is detected. After outputting the predetermined number nof drive pulse, the control circuit 101 outputs a control signal to thestepping motor driver 102 so as to stop the stepping motor 411. When thechange in the signal output from the initial position PI 453 from theHigh signal to the Low signal is detected, the control circuit 101outputs a signal (initial position signal) which indicates that thesignal output from the initial position PI 453 has been switched from aHigh signal to a Low signal to the stepping motor driver 102.

Upon receiving the initial position signal from the control circuit 101,the stepping motor driver 102 outputs the predetermined number n ofdrive pulse to the stepping motor 411 and subsequently stops thestepping motor 411.

In the diaphragm mechanism 400 according to the present embodiment, theaperture driving lever 403 is stopped at the position where the steppingmotor 411 is driven in the direction of reset by the predeterminednumber n of drive pulse from a reference position. The benchmarkposition is a rotational position of the aperture driving lever 403(hereinafter called an aperture driving lever initial position) takenwhen the signal output from the initial position PI 453 is switched fromthe High signal to the Low signal. Therefore, the rotational position ofthe aperture driving lever 403 achieved when the stepping motor 411 isdriven in the direction of reset by the predetermined number n of drivepulse from the aperture driving lever initial position is the “stopposition of the aperture driving lever 403 before shutter release.”Thus, the diaphragm mechanism 400 according to the present embodimentregards the aperture driving lever initial position as an original pointof the aperture driving lever 403 and defines the “stop position of theaperture driving lever 403 before shutter release” accordingly.

The aperture driving lever initial position is detected by the initialposition PI 453 based on an actual rotational position of the aperturedriving lever 403 for following reason. In the stepping motor 411, arotational amount of the output shaft 411 a is determined by the numberof drive pulse. However, in the case where a phenomenon known anddescribed as step-out occurs for some reasons, even if the number ofdrive pulse required for release is input to rotate the output shaft 411a of the stepping motor 411 in the direction of reset, the output shaft411 a of the stepping motor 411 is not restored to the rotational phaseor position to be taken before shutter release. This will cause troublessuch as that the aperture driving lever 403 is not completely restoredits original position.

By defining the “stop position of the aperture driving lever 403 beforeshutter release” with the aperture driving lever initial position asdetected above as a reference position, it is possible to prevent the“stop position of the aperture driving lever 403 before shutter release”from deviating even if step-out occurs at release. Unless step-outoccurs, the total number of drive pulse at release and the total numberof drive pulse at reset are equal to each other, and therefore an outputtime of drive pulse at release and that at reset are equal to each other(time T1) (FIG. 10).

Unless step-out and the like occur, the number of drive pulse outputtedby the stepping motor driver 102 after the signal output from theinitial position PI 453 at stop-down switches from the Low signal to theHigh signal (hereinafter called the number of pulse after passingthrough initial position) matches with the number of drive pulseoutputted by the stepping motor driver 102 before the signal output fromthe initial position PI 453 at reset switches from the High signal tothe Low signal (hereinafter called the number of initial positionrestoring pulse). However, in the case where the aperture driving lever403 fails to rotate by a predetermined rotational amount for somereasons, the number of initial position restoring pulse results insmaller than the number of pulse after passing through initial position.In the case where the number of initial position restoring pulse issmaller than the number of pulse after passing through initial position,and the difference is equal to or more than a predetermined number ofpulse, for instance, an error message may be displayed on a display (notherein figured) provided on the back side of the camera body 1.

The following operational effects can be achieved by the diaphragmmechanism 400 and the electronic camera according to the presentembodiment.

(1) The aperture driving lever 403 is driven by the stepping motor 411such that the aperture lever 402 that abuts against the aperture lever 3on the lens of the photographic lens 2 is to rotate. This cuts out theneed for controlling a gear train unlike a conventional diaphragmmechanism that engages a pawl with a ratchet wheel of a gear train tobrake the gear train. Therefore, for instance, the stop phase of thegear train is not deviated due to, for instance, the pawl abuttingagainst a tooth top part of a ratchet wheel. A desired aperture value isthus realized.

A conventional diaphragm mechanism is configured so as to stop a ratchetwheel rotating at a high speed by engaging a pawl with the wheel. Thisabrades the ratchet wheel and the pawl. On the other hand, the diaphragmmechanism 400 according to the present embodiment does not include anyconfiguration in which a ratchet wheel that rotates at high speed isstopped by using a pawl, and thus will not cause any wear as caused in aconventional diaphragm mechanism. This improves durability of thediaphragm mechanism 400.

(2) A conventional diaphragm mechanism forcibly stops a ratchet wheelusing a pawl while the ratchet wheel is accelerated and rotating at ahigh speed. In other words, a conventional diaphragm mechanism sharplystops the ratchet wheel without slowing it down. This causes diaphragmblades of the photographic lens 2 to bounce. On the other hand, thediaphragm mechanism 400 according to the present embodiment, just beforestopping the aperture driving lever 403, that is, just before stoppingthe stepping motor 411, they are slowed down and stopped. This preventsdiaphragm blades of the photographic lens 2 from bouncing and reducesthe time for the bounce to settle down. This is also true whenmaximizing the aperture. Since the time for one sequence of the shootingcan thus be reduced, a frame-speed (the number of frames to be capturedper unit time) can be increased.

(3) Timing for starting rotation of the aperture lever 402 is detected.By using the point of detection when rotation of the aperture lever 402is started as a reference position, the stepping motor 411 is controlledso as to rotate the aperture driving lever 403 by a stop-down rotationalamount θf. This enables an aperture of the photographic lens 2 to be setas desired even if the “stop position of the aperture lever 402 with thelens mounted before shutter release” should vary depending on a type ofthe photographic lens 2 to be mounted. Therefore, a type of thephotographic lens 2 to be mounted is not limited. Actually, anyphotographic lens 2 can be mounted with accurate setting of theaperture.

(4) At stop-down, the aperture driving lever 403 and the aperture lever402 are driven by the driving force of the stepping motor 411 and thebiasing force of the stop-down spring 471. This achieves miniaturizationof the stepping motor 411 while maintaining the driving speeds of theaperture driving lever 403 and the aperture lever 402 that affect framespeed.

(5) At stop-down, the aperture driving lever 403 and the aperture lever402 are arranged to operate integrally by use of the aperture lever pawl405. With the maximum aperture, the aperture lever pawl 405 releases thepin 402 c such that the aperture lever 402 is rotatable separately fromthe aperture driving lever 403. This allows the aperture lever 402 tostably rotate at stop-down and results in improvement in quality of asubject image. In addition, even if the stop position of the aperturelever 3 on the lens at the maximum aperture changes due to thedifference of the photographic lens 2 to be mounted, it can be handled.Therefore, the photographic lens 2 mounted on the camera body 1 is notlimited. Actually, any photographic lens 2 can be mounted and thusconvenience is improved.

(6) The initial position PI blade rotation lever 451, the initialposition PI blade 452, and the initial position PI 453 are configured todetect the aperture driving lever initial position. Regarding theaperture driving lever initial position as an original position of theaperture driving lever 403, the “stop position of the aperture drivinglever 403 before shutter release” is defined. This allows the “stopposition of the aperture driving lever 403 before shutter release” to beset at a fixed position. Therefore, even if the stepping motor 411 hasstep-out, the aperture driving lever 403 can be restored in its rightposition after reset operation without having any negative impact on thenext imaging operation.

(7) The lower end of the arm 404 a of the aperture reset lever 404 isdesigned to press the pin 403 d on the aperture driving lever 403clockwise after driving force of the stepping motor 411 starts rotatingthe aperture driving lever 403. In other words, driving force of thestepping motor 411 is to rotate the aperture driving lever 403 beforethe lower end of the arm 404 a of the aperture reset lever 404 startspressing the pin 403 d on the aperture driving lever 403 clockwise. Thisallows the aperture driving lever 403 to be rotated instantaneously atrelease operation, which results in achieving faster frame speed.

(8) At reset, after the aperture reset lever 404 is rotatedcounterclockwise and the aperture driving lever 403 is applied with abiasing force that causes counterclockwise rotation, the stepping motor411 is to start to rotate in the direction of reset.

Variations

(1) An image captured by the CCD 5 may be displayed in real-time on adisplay (LCD, etc.) (not figured herein) provided on the back side ofthe camera body 1. In other words, a mode known and described as a livepreview mode maybe selected. In this case, even after stop-downoperation is started as mentioned above, as long as the live previewimage is being displayed, an aperture value of the photographic lens 2may be adjusted in a following manner.

The control circuit 101 calculates an aperture value based on a resultby a photometric sensor not herein figured and calculates a rotationphase or position of the output shaft 411 a of the stepping motor 411that corresponds to the calculated aperture value. The control circuit101 determines rotation direction of the output shaft 411 a of thestepping motor 411 according to information of the calculated rotationphase of the output shaft 411 a, and further calculates the number ofdrive pulse to be output to the stepping motor 411. Then, the controlcircuit 101 outputs the rotation direction and the number of drive pulseto the stepping motor driver 102 as drive information. The steppingmotor driver 102 controls the rotation of the stepping motor 411 inaccordance with the drive information from the control circuit 101.

In order to rotate the aperture driving lever 403 and the aperture lever402 clockwise (stop-down direction), the stepping motor 411 rotates theaperture driving lever 403 and the aperture lever 402 with a help offrom the biasing force of the stop-down spring 471. On the other hand,in order to rotate the aperture driving lever 403 and the aperture lever402 counterclockwise (maximum aperture direction or direction forwidening the aperture), the stepping motor 411 rotates the aperturedriving lever 403 and the aperture lever 402 against the biasing forceof the stop-down spring 471.

In the case where the aperture driving lever 403 and the aperture lever402 are rotated while the live preview image is displayed, mainly thestop-down spring 471 extends and contracts since a spring constant ofthe stop-down spring 471 is smaller than a spring constant of theaperture reset spring 472. The stepping motor 411 to be mounted on thediaphragm mechanism 400 is required to be decreased in size andincreased in a rotational speed. Therefore, even though necessary torquecan be output for rotating the aperture driving lever 403 and theaperture lever 402 against the biasing force of the stop-down spring471, the stepping motor cannot output torque great enough to extend andcontract the aperture reset spring 472. In general, a larger steppingmotor (a larger diameter) increases output torque, while it decreases arotational speed of an output shaft.

An aperture value of the photographic lens 2 is thus configured to beadjusted while a live preview image is displayed. This allows brightnessof the live preview image on a display (not figured herein) to beadjusted as desired regardless of change in brightness of a subjector/and an area surrounding the subject. Visibility of the live previewimage will thus be improved. A subject image can be captured at theoptimal aperture value without resetting the diaphragm mechanism 400after displaying the live preview image. This enables a subject image tobe shot at a timing intended by a user.

(2) In the above embodiments, the aperture driving lever 403 isconfigured to rotate using the biasing force of the stop-down spring 471and the aperture reset spring 472. However, the present invention is notlimited to the above embodiments. For instance, stop-down operation andaperture opening operation may be performed only by the driving force ofthe stepping motor 411 without using the biasing force of the stop-downspring 471 and the aperture reset spring 472. It should be noted that,however, since more driving torque of the stepping motor 411 will berequired, the stepping motor 411 needs to have a larger diameter andslower rotational speed. As a result, this lengthens the time necessaryfor stop-down operation and aperture opening operation. Consequently,this example can be adopted to a camera that can keep the frame speedlow to a certain extent.

(3) In the above explanations, the aperture PI 443 is to detect thestart of rotation of the aperture lever 402. However, in place of theaperture PI 443, an electrical contact may be provided at an abuttingpart of the aperture PI blade lever 441 against the aperture lever 402.In this case, it is configured such that as the aperture lever 402rotates clockwise in the illustration, the aperture PI blade lever 441may rotate counterclockwise, for example, inertially, behind themovement of the aperture lever 402. When the control circuit 101electrically detects the state of the electrical contact changing fromcontacting and parting, it may be determined that the rotation of theaperture lever 402 has started.

(4) In the above explanations, a CCD image sensor (CCD 5) is employedfor an image sensor. However, other image sensors such as a CMOS imagesensor may be adopted. In the above explanations, an electronic camerathat captures a subject image by an image sensor is adopted. However,the present invention may be adopted to a silver halide camera that usesa film.

(5) In the above explanations, the stepping motor 411 is a claw-pole PMstepping motor. However, the present invention is not limited to thisexample. Not only a PM stepping motor but also other stepping motorssuch as a VR stepping motor or a HB stepping motor maybe employed. Notonly a stepping motor but also any type of motor used for positioningsuch as a DC motor or a servo motor may be adopted.

(6) The above embodiments and examples of variations may be combinedwith one another.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. Thepresent invention includes an aperture control device and a variety ofcameras on which the aperture control devices are mounted. The aperturecontrol device includes an aperture first driving member that drives anaperture (diaphragm) of a lens, an aperture second driving member thatdrives the aperture first driving member, a motor that drives theaperture second driving member via a worm gear, a detection device thatdetects start of movement of the aperture first driving member, and amotor control device that controls an aperture value of the lens bycontrolling a rotational amount of the motor after the detection devicedetects the start of movement of the aperture first driving member. Theaperture control device can be configured in a various method such that,after driving the aperture of the lens to set the aperture value asdesired, driving of the motor is stopped and self-locking of the wormgear is used to lock the aperture first driving member and the aperturesecond driving member.

The above-described embodiments are examples, and various modificationscan be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. An aperture control device, comprising: anaperture first driving member that controls an aperture of a diaphragmthrough which light flux passes; an aperture second driving member thatdrives the aperture first driving member; a motor that drives theaperture second driving member; a detection device that detects start ofmovement of the aperture first driving member caused by the aperturesecond driving member driven by the motor; and a motor control devicethat controls an aperture value of the diaphragm by controlling arotational amount of the motor after the detection device detects thestart of movement of the aperture first driving member.
 2. An aperturecontrol device according to claim 1, further comprising: a worm gearthat transmits driving force of the motor to the aperture second drivingmember, wherein: after the motor control device stops the driving of themotor and the aperture value is controlled to a predetermined value, theaperture first driving member and the aperture second driving member arefixed so as not to move using self-locking of the worm gear.
 3. Anaperture control device according to claim 1, further comprising: themotor being a stepping motor; and a stop-down biasing device thatapplies a biasing force on the aperture second driving member such thatthe aperture is driven in a direction of stop-down, wherein: the motorcontrol device controls the aperture value of the lens by controlling arotational amount of the stepping motor after the detection devicedetects the start of movement of the aperture first driving member. 4.An aperture control device according to claim 3, wherein: the steppingmotor drives the aperture second driving member such that the diaphragmis driven in a direction for widening the aperture against the biasingforce of the stop-down biasing device.
 5. An aperture control deviceaccording to claim 3, further comprising: an engaging member thatengages the aperture first driving member and the aperture seconddriving member with each other at least when the aperture is stoppeddown.
 6. An aperture control device according to claim 3, furthercomprising: a maximum aperture biasing device that applies a biasingforce on the aperture second driving member as the aperture seconddriving member is driven in a direction for widening the aperture,wherein: the motor control device controls rotation of the steppingmotor such that the aperture second driving member on which the biasingforce is applied by the maximum aperture biasing device is driven in thedirection for widening the aperture.
 7. An aperture control deviceaccording to claim 3, further comprising: an aperture second drivingmember initial position detection device that detects an initialposition of the aperture second driving member.
 8. An aperture controldevice according to claim 3, wherein: the motor control device startsrotation of the stepping motor such that the stepping motor drives theaperture second driving member in the direction of stop-down before thebiasing force of the stop-down biasing device is applied on the aperturesecond driving member.
 9. An aperture control device according to claim3, wherein: the motor control device starts rotation of the steppingmotor such that the stepping motor drives the aperture second drivingmember in the direction for widening the aperture after the biasingforce of the maximum aperture biasing device is applied on the aperturesecond driving member.
 10. A camera comprising the aperture controldevice according to claim 1.